Designation: D 6092 – 97 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Practice for
Specifying Standard Sizes of Stone for Erosion Control1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6092; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers size designations and maximum
ranges in mass or gradation for standard sizes for riprap, spalls,
or bedding, or both, used for slope protection of dam embank-
ments, streambank erosion control, bridge piers and abutments.
Sizes used for outer harbor structures such as breakwalls,
revetments, confined diked disposal structures (heretofore
described as armor stone, cover stone, or dimension stone) for
which stone sizes range between 5 and 25 tons, or that require
cut dimensions for layed-up structures are beyond the scope of
this practice.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This practice offers an organized collection of informa-
tion or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in
all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to
represent or replace the standard of care by which the
adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor
should this document be applied without consideration of a
project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
title of this document means only that the document has been
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Fluids2
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.17 on Rock for Erosion
Control.
Current edition approved March 10, 1997. Published May 1997.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
D 4992 Practice for Evaluation of Rock to be Used for
Erosion Control2
D 5519 Test Method for Particle Size Analysis of Natural
and Manmade Riprap Materials2
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions: Definitions of other terms in this guide are
listed in Terminology D 653.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 filter/bedding stone—stone, filter stone consisting of
crushed stone ranging in size from 3⁄4 in. (19 mm) to number 40
sieve size, and bedding stone (often referred to as “spalls”)
consisting of crushed stone ranging in size from 6 in. (152 mm)
(maximum) to 1⁄2 in. (12.7 mm) minimum. Filter and bedding
may be placed in two layers beneath the riprap, that is, a filter
layer 8 to 10 in. (203 to 254 mm) thick and a bedding thickness
of 6 to 8 in. (152 to 203 mm).
3.2.2 geotextiles—suitable geotextile fabrics that meet the
design requirements may be used instead of the above bedding
and spalls. Suitable cover thickness maybe required.
3.2.3 gradation—the proportions by mass of stones distrib-
uted within specified ranges between maximum and minimum
limits.
3.2.4 riprap—stone materials generally less than two tons
in weight, specially selected and graded, and when properly
placed prevents erosion through minor wave action, or strong
currents and thereby preserves the shape of a surface, slope, or
the underlying structure.
3.2.5 standard size designation—one of a group of stones
with specified gradation limits.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 The design team shall establish the size of the mass of
graded quarry stone using acceptable design criteria. If design
criteria and economic factors permit, standard gradations
shown in the designated tables should be selected. Using
standard sizes, the design team shall select the appropriate
gradation; this might require the next larger size thereby
creating an over-designed structure, but economically, a
cheaper structure. Added cost may result due to the increased
volume of stone required, and in transporting and placing the
additional stone at the project site. The cost effectiveness of
 D 6092 – 97 (2003)
TABLE 1 Standard Sizes for RiprapA
Size Designation R-1500 R-700 R-300 R-150 R-60 R-20
Particle Mass Percent Lighter Than the Mass SpecifiedB
Pounds (Kilogram)C
3000 (1400) 100 ... ... ... ... ...
1500 (680) 50 to 100 100 ... ... ... ...
1000 (450) ... ... ... ... ... ...
700 (320) 15 to 50 50 to 100 100 ... ... ...
500 (230) ... ... ... ... ... ...
300 (140) ... 15 to 50 50 to 100 100 ... ...
250 (110) 0 to 15 ... ... ... ... ...
150 (68) ... ... 15 to 50 50 to 100 100 ...
60 (27) ... 0 to 15 ... 15 to 50 50 to 100 ...
45 (20) ... ... 0 to 15 ... ... 100
30 (14) ... ... ... ... 15 to 50 ...
20 (9.1) ... ... ... 0 to 15 ... 50 to 100
10 (4.5) ... ... ... ... 0 to 15 15 to 50
2 (0.9) ... ... ... ... ... 0 to 15
A
Revised Nov 14, 1995, and modified to conform to the gradations proposed by the producers and the National Crushed Stone Association.
B
Established by determining the mass of the individual stone particles.
C
Rounded to two figures from conversion of inch-pound (U.S. Customary) units.

TABLE 2 Effect of Specific Gravity on the Weight of Stone of Various Shapes (Pounds)
Maximum Cube Sphere
Dimension, in.
Specific Gravity Specific Gravity
... 2.60 2.65 2.70 2.75 2.60 2.65 2.70 2.75
42 6950 7090 7225 7350 3640 3712 3780 3850
30 2535 2584 2635 2680 1325 1353 1380 1405
20 750 766 780 390 390 401 410 415
12 160 165 168 172 85 87 88 90
6 20 20.5 21 21.5 10 11 11 11

Prolate Sphere Average of Cube and Sphere

Specific Gravity Specific Gravity
... 2.60 2.65 2.70 2.75 2.60 2.65 2.70 2.75
42 3238 3300 3362 3424 5300 5401 5500 5600
30 1180 1202.5 1225 1248 1930 1968 2005 2845
20 350 356 363 370 570 583 595 405
12 75 77 78 80 123 126 128 131
6 9.4 9.6 9.8 10 15 16 16 16

using “standard grading” versus “non-standard gradings” al-
ways should be evaluated, and standard gradations used
whenever possible.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The standard size designations listed in this practice are
provided so that the design team, consumer, and the producer
have a common reference in sizing stone materials used in
erosion control. The design team should perform a materials
survey, and subsequent testing to determine which quarry
sources may have suitable in-place rock and perform suitable
blasting and processing procedures to produce the required
gradations. The design team must recognize the fact that not all
sources are capable or willing to produce the required grada-
tions. Only those sources listed by the design team should be
considered for construction of the project.
5.2 The standard size designations provided in this guide are
suitable for protective surfacing and structures designed for
erosion control. These sizes are for typical structures such as
jetties, revetments, groin baffles, bulkheads, lining for
drainage/irrigation ditches and for intake or outlet facilities,
bridges and stream channel banks, gabions, and slope protec-
tion for earth embankment and rock-fill dams.
5.3 The design selection of stone sizes, durability, place-
ment, filter/bedding materials, or geotextiles, steepness of
slopes for placement, and layer thickness are beyond the scope
of this guide.
6. Manufacture
6.1 The standard size designations of quarried stone for
erosion control in this guide may be produced by any suitable
commercial quarrying method, and by the use of any type of
sizing device, shape or size of plant grizzly or screen openings,
or combinations thereof, necessary to produce the required
sizes within the gradation limits specified in Section 6.
6.2 Stones shall be hard, angular to subangular, and of such
quality that they will not disintergrate on exposure to water or
weathering during the designed life of the structure. The stone
shall be free from fractures, shale partings, deleterious mate-
rials, and overburden soil (including clays from sink structures,
that is, chimneys and stopes). The design team shall specify
acceptance criteria based on the requirements for the individual

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 D 6092 – 97 (2003)
project. Additional guidance may be found in Practice D 4992
and Test Method D 5519.
7. Standard Sizes
7.1 Standard size designations of stone for erosion control
are defined on the basis of mass or equivalent sieve size. The
sizes are separated into riprap [R-1500 through R-20] and
filter/bedding stone [FS-1 and FS-2] and spalls [FS-3].
7.1.1 Graded stone sizes are shown on Table 1, and are
based on mass.
7.1.2 Equivalent dimensions are not shown. Any calculated
dimensions would have to assume shapes such as a cube, a
sphere, an prolate sphere, or a combination of shapes. Table 2
3
provides additional information on converting to approximate
dimensions for graded stone.
7.1.3 Gradation curves for each stone size are presented in
Figs. 1-9.
7.1.4 Filter/bedding stone sizes are shown in Figs. 7-9.
7.2 The stone shall be reasonably well-graded and fall
within the limits of the gradation curve for each size designa-
tion. Gradation test results that begin on the coarse side of the
curve and end up on the fine side of the curve are considered
as “skip-graded” and will not be accepted.
8. Keywords
8.1 erosion control; filter/bedding stone; gradation; quarried
stone; riprap; standard size designation
 D 6092 – 97 (2003)
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NOTE 1—Gradations curves for each of the riprap types are plotted on the following pages. Test results for each gradation performed in the field should be plotted on the appropriate curve.
Acceptable products will plot somewhat parallel to the gradation limits. Test results of the products that start on the coarse side of the curve and end on the finer side of the curve shall be deemed
as skip graded and are unacceptable.
FIG. 1 Gradation Limits for Riprap R-1500
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D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 2 Gradation Limits for Riprap R-700

6
D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 3 Gradation Curve for Riprap R-300

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D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 4 Gradation Limits for Riprap R-150

8
D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 5 Gradation Limits for Riprap R-60

9
D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 6 Gradation Limits for Riprap R-20

10
D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 7 Gradation Limits for Bedding FS-1

11
D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 8 Gradation Limits for Bedding FS-2

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D 6092 – 97 (2003)

FIG. 9 Gradation Limits for Spalls FS-3

 D 6092 – 97 (2003)

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